Peel Memorial Health Centre in Tops Off Brampton

On July 30th, dignitaries and members of the public gathered to celebrate the topping-off of the new Peel Memorial Centre for Integrated Health and Wellness in Brampton, designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects in collaboration with RTKL Canada for Plenary Health who are developing the hospital with a Design, Build, Finance, Maintain model. PCL Constructors are the general contractor.

It was a beautiful day to celebrate the coming of the new, state-of-the-art, 585,000 sq. ft. ambulatory care clinic, which will be part of the William Osler Health System which also includes Brampton Civic Hospital and Etobicoke General Hospital. Brampton Mayor Linda Jeffrey joined several members of the Osler board and local politicians from various levels of government including Associate Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, Dipika Damerla, to speak at the proceedings.

Linda Jeffrey, left, and Dipika Damerla, right, along with others, sign an i-beam with black Sharpies, image by Craig White

The Peel Memorial Centre has been designed first and foremost with patient well-being in mind. A large, airy entranceway and atrium will greet patients and visitors, with ample natural light brought in through the glass canopy above, along with a generous bank of multi-coloured glass panels integrated into the lobby facade, selected in part to reflect the growing diversity of Brampton. Renderings below highlight how these features will appear once construction is finished, followed by images of how construction has progressed so far:

The previous Peel Memorial Hospital stood on this site until 2012 when it was demolished. The earlier building was a 367-bed acute care hospital, but its functions were transferred to Brampton Civic Hospital when that 608-bed acute care facility opened in 2007. From the time it opened, it was obvious that the growing city of Brampton would need more facilities than were offered at the new Brampton Civic location, so a plan for a new Peel Memorial was hatched. The new $530 million facility does not have beds for overnight stays nor an emergency department, so the word hospital is not part of the new name.

The new centre will provide a full array of outpatient treatment areas including a Dialysis Clinic, Seniors' Wellness Centre, and a Centre for Mental Health and Addiction. An extended Urgent Care Centre and an Ambulatory Procedure Clinic with eight operating suites will be included as well. All of this and more will be incorporated into the progressive overall design of the facility, which will feature an intuitive way-finding system, as well as a graduated level of privacy and separation for public and service access. Large courtyards will be placed alongside spacious dining halls and waiting areas, while an assortment of community meeting rooms, childrens' play areas, and a fitness centre, will round out the space.

Dipika Demerla, speaking on behalf of Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long Term Care, had the following to say on the benefits of the new facility:

“Today marks a significant milestone in the construction of the Peel Memorial Centre for Integrated Health and Wellness. When completed, it will serve as a model for community partnerships, offering more choices for patients, increased access to high quality services and innovative models of care closer to home for residents of Peel.”

From the vantage point of the crowd outside, it was clear that progress was well underway, with a reported peak work-force of 500 construction workers on-site on any given day. Construction is slated for completion for the Fall of 2016, nearly one year from now. Workers continued right through the proceedings, keeping pace throughout the day. Images below show them pouring some of the last concrete on the top of the structure and continuing with the outfitting of the interior:

Workers pour concrete from atop the Centre, image by Craig White

Close-up of work underway, image by Craig White

Announced at the event was the largest private donation yet to Peel Memorial, by Brampton businessman Sajjad Ebrahim and his family for $2.5 million. The family joined in the I-beam signing while Mr. and Mrs. Ebrahim joined the dignitaries atop the new building for a group photo. Those pictured below are: (left to right) Kulvir Singh Gill, Chair, William Osler Health System Foundation Board; Matthew Anderson, Osler President and CEO; Mr. and Mrs. Sajjad Ebrahim, Osler Foundation donors; Hon. Dipika Damerla, Associate Minister of Health and Long-Term Care; Vic Dhillon, MPP Brampton West; Her Worship Linda Jeffrey, Mayor of Brampton; Maria Britto, Chair, Central West LHIN Board; Ken Mayhew, President and CEO, Osler Foundation; Neil Davis, Vice Chair, Osler Board of Directors; and John Davies, Chair, Osler Board of Directors.

Celebrating the topping off of the Peel Memorial Centre, image courtesy of the William Osler Health System

Once complete, the Peel Memorial Centre for Integrated Health and Wellness will offer area residents with a beautiful new facility, one that will well serve the ever-growing community northwest of Toronto for years to come.

Stay current with UrbanToronto's ongoing coverage of this facility as construction progresses with our Forum and dataBase.